It’s big oil versus big oil, patriarch versus patriarch in what was once a hotly contested battle of ratings.

ABC’s “Dynasty,” which premiered 36 years ago this week, has always been compared and contrasted to the show’s soapy counterpart, CBS sensation “Dallas.”

Both shows depicted a powerful oil tycoon and his family’s many personal and business-related scandals and trials.

Often, the shows boiled down to one driving question: Does morality trump deceit?

While the leading characters — Blake Carrington and J.R. Ewing — proved highly watchable, their moral integrity can certainly be drawn into question.

The two prime-time soaps featured ratings-grabbing, cliff-hanging season finales — and often unsatisfactory returns.

Linda Evans and John Forsythe in the '80s hit show "Dynasty."

For one, the Denver-set “Dynasty” began its run in 1981 under Richard and Esther Shapiro, and featured John Forsythe as Blake Carrington, Linda Evans as his younger wife Krystle, Joan Collins as Alexis, his ex-wife, and even Heather Locklear as “Sammy Jo,” Krystle’s niece. Much of the drama emerged from Blake’s business interests — and his feud with the Colby clan and its corporation, Colbyco.

“Dynasty” featured everything from car crashes to house fires to terrorism (in the often-recalled “Moldavian Massacre” episode).

Then, there’s “Dallas,” an equally soapy drama about a powerful family which owns the Ewing Oil company, and the cattle-ranching land of Southfork, Texas. The series hit the small screen in April 1978.

While the show originally began as the story of a romance between Bobby Ewing and Pamela Barnes, two members of feuding families, the story gravitated toward J.R. and his unscrupulous ways — both professionally and personally.

The show featured an incestuous relationship between Lucy Ewing and her uncle Ray Krebbs, and constant attempts on J.R.’s part to undermine the marriage between his brother, Bobby, and Pamela.

Then again, there was Cliff Barnes, a man who hated J.R. and the Ewings as much as J.R. hated him. He set out for revenge against the strange marriage.

This 1983 file photo shows actor Larry Hagman, center left, with fellow cast members of the television series "Dallas."

(Anonymous/AP)

The Season 3 finale, entitled “A House Divided,” created the infamous “Who shot J.R.?” storyline. The episode has been noted as some of the best TV of all-time, and was a clear-cut ratings success. Another cliffhanger involved a dead female found in the Southfork ranch swimming pool in Season 4, a conflagration in Season 6 and Bobby’s death, which began in Season 8 and carried over to his return in Season 9.

It featured Donna Reed and Barbara Bel Geddes as Miss Ellie, Jim Davis as Jock Ewing, Patrick Duffy as Bobby Ewing, Larry Hagman as J.R. Ewing, and Victoria Principal as Pamela Barnes Ewing, among many others.

After taking a trip down memory lane, it’s time to decide which patriarch had the more solid footing. We know that either one would quickly rake someone over the coals if it were beneficial to his company.

On top of that, who was truly more devious? More cold-blooded?

After careful review, we’ve decided J.R. takes the cake.

The winner: Mr. Ewing. This 1981 file photo shows Larry Hagman in character as J.R. in "Dallas."

(AP)

Blake’s Denver-Carrington Company is definitely reputable — as is J.R.’s Ewing Oil.

But a stern, cowboy-hat-wearing, drink-carrying, vest-wearing Texas tycoon beats the more stately, slicked-back, charismatic and uppity business owner up in Colorado any day.

Carrington didn’t even make the list. (Some estimates had his wealth peaking at around $500 million.)

The site writes, “(J.R.) fought bitter internecine battles with brother Bobby and wife Sue Ellen in order to remain at helm of Ewing Oil, company built by father Jock. Most recent victory: successfully evading federal regulators investigating him for manipulating price of crude. Socializes with group dubbed ‘The Cartel.’ Failed 1980 assassination attempt dominated headlines worldwide. Unrest in Middle East threatens some overseas interests, but war likely to boost price of oil — and net worth.”

And even if there was a secret debt that J.R. tried to sweep under the rug, this sturdy, resilient Texan could go 12 rounds with the best of them.